Jerry Jones once again optimistic about Cowboys’ season

“A lot of people say the old saying, ‘You are what you are,’ when you look at 1-4,” Jones told Dallas’ KRLD-FM on Tuesday. “We are not that. Our team is doing some very good things.”

Jones’ comments represented a striking reversal from the downcast mood he projected in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s 24-21 loss to Minnesota. Rather than sound a positive note, Jones said in the visiting locker room that he was no longer optimistic about the club rebounding tto make the playoffs.

“I believe we can turn things around,” Jones said. “While the odds are against us, we can make all the things happen that we wanted to do this year.”

Jones said Tuesday that in order to get back in the playoff chase, the Cowboys have to “reel off six, seven ballgames in a row, and we’ve got to start against (the) New York (Giants on Monday night).”

If the Cowboys lose to the Giants, they will be 0-4 within the conference and 0-2 within the division.

“It’s going to be quite a challenge to be in the playoff hunt,” Jones said. “Just look at it mathematically. We have a high percentage of our remaining games to win. This is a league that is real close. All you’ve got to do is look at the scores and see how close these teams are. So it’s a real challenge.

“On the other hand, we’ve got a team that is playing well. This isn’t a rationalization, but we’re actually better each week. And we are playing better with the exception of the one thing that’s got us in this position, and that’s these unfortunate penalties. It’s not just the rack up of the yards, but it’s the plays being called back.”